The Relations of Daily Counterproductive Workplace Behavior With Emotions, Situational Antecedents, and Personality Moderators: A Diary Study in Hong Kong

Abstract

In this diary study conducted in Hong Kong, we examined a theoretical model in which negative emotions serve as an explanatory mechanism through which daily stressors impact daily counterproductive work behavior (CWB). We further theorized that personality variables (negative affectivity, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness) would exert cross‐level effects on the within‐person relationships. Hierarchical linear modeling results based on a sample of 231 individuals and 5,583 observations across 25 days provide partial support for the mediating role of negative emotions in the within‐person stressor–CWB relationships. Specifically, we found that negative emotions (a) partially mediated the within‐person relation of perceived ambiguity with CWB directed at the organization, (b) fully mediated the relation of supervisor interpersonal injustice with CWB directed at individuals, and (c) fully mediated the relation of customer interpersonal injustice with CWB directed at the organization. High levels of trait negative affectivity were found to strengthen the within‐person relation between daily supervisor interpersonal injustice and daily negative emotions. As expected, high levels of trait Conscientiousness and Agreeableness were found to weaken the within‐person relations of daily negative emotions with daily CWB directed at the organization and individuals.

Antecedents of Deviant Work Behavior: A Review of Research

“…For example, feelings of anger and frustration predicted various forms of CWB such as sabotage, abuse, and absenteeism [18] and within-person research on the antecedents of CWBs shows that state hostility mediated relations of interpersonal unfairness with job satisfaction, and job dissatisfaction mediated relations of state hostility with CWB [19]. Consistent with these findings, other investigators have demonstrated that negative emotions fully mediated daily relations of interpersonal unfairness and CWB [20].…”

Narcissism: An Integrative Synthesis and Dominance Complementarity Model

“…Thus, the positive relationship between narcissism and CWB may be at least partially explained by narcissists lashing out at their company or coworkers because of negative emotions triggered by threats to self-esteem. Recently, attention has focused on the role that negative emotions play in CWB, with evidence supporting that at least some CWB happens in the heat of the moment, as an impulsive response to negative affect (Dalal, Lam, Weiss, Welch, & Hulin, 2009;Yang & Diefendorff, 2009). …”

The role of irritability in the relation between job stressors, emotional reactivity, and counterproductive work behaviour

“…Even though the stressor-emotion model forecasts a process from environment to CWB through emotions, the majority of these studies examined the role of individual differences exclusively in the relation between stressors and CWB (see Fox et al, 2001, for trait anger; Penney & Spector, 2002, for narcissism;Perlow & Latham, 1993, for locus of control; Flaherty & Moss, 2007, for neuroticism;Bowling & Eschleman, 2010, for conscientiousness and negative affectivity trait). Only Yang and Diefendorff (2009) examined the contribution of personality in the entire process, finding that trait negative emotion moderates the relation between interpersonal justice and daily negative emotions but not the relation between this specific stressor and CWB.…”